The Anti-Fracking Crusade
VID members and hundreds of New Yorkers have been involved in a number of different Anti-Fracking and Anti-Spectra pipeline events over the last four weeks. You can see a slide show here.
Protests against Fracking outside Chelsea Piers, October 19
Hundreds of demonstrators,including members of the Village Independent Democrats, participated in a rally against hydraulic fracking outside of Chelsea Piers. Governor Cuomo was scheduled to host a luncheon at a restaurant inside the facility but was unable to attend and therefore missed the protest. Protestors also mobilized a pair of boats to face the waterfront venue.
October 30 Rally in Albany
On Wednesday, October 30, hundreds of New Yorkers from across the state came to Albany to expose Governor Cuomo and the Department of Environmental Conservation’s (DEC) proposed Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) regulations for what they are: fatally flawed, a danger to public health and our well-being, and supportive of a massive fracking infrastructure build out. Photo Credit: New Yorkers Against Fracking.
Rally at the Spectra Pipeline –November 2, 2013
The pipeline which started operation on November 1st is bringing radon laced natural gas into New York City. Radon is a known cancer-causing radioactive gas and is found in the gas producing shale formations in Pennsylvania that are being piped into the City via the Spectra pipeline. VID is part of a lawsuit with a half dozen other organizations attempting to stop or modify its operations. A peaceful civil disobedience demonstration to mark the beginning of its operation was held on November 2. Corey Johnson, newly elected City Council representative and VID member Nancy Shamban, along with 11 others, were arrested. Elected New York Officials: Borough President Elect- Gail Brewer, Assemblyman-Richard Gottfried and Assemblywoman-Linda Rosenthal gave speeches of support.
Village Independent Democrats members: Frieda Bradlow, Anne Heaney, Nat Johnson, Alexander Meadows, Katherine Wolpe and Celia Wu also participated. See the video clip of the demonstration.
Submitted by Nat Johnson